BJP MLC Prasad Lad has levelled serious allegations of corruption amounting to over Rs 1,000 crore in connection with the desilting of Mumbai’s Mithi River. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Lad claimed that contracts awarded during the tenure of Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister were marred by massive irregularities.
According to Lad, ongoing investigations by the BMC and Mumbai Police are being deliberately diverted to shield the key perpetrators. He stated that the probe, led by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), is currently focusing only on minor contractors involved in tenders worth Rs 3 to Rs 7 crore, while those who orchestrated the larger scam remain untouched.
Lad highlighted that although the EOW is investigating a Rs 65 crore scam, the actual scale of corruption is far greater. He alleged that the BMC spent RS 250 crore in recent years to remove merely 1.5 to 2 lakh tonnes of silt. “Over the last 15 years, nearly 30 lakh tonnes of silt should have been removed – enough to create a landmass the size of Navi Mumbai. Yet, there’s no clarity on where this silt has gone,” he said. He further claimed that the designated dumping ground now hosts high-rise buildings.
Pointing to documentation discrepancies, Lad noted that silt transportation records show two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws being listed instead of proper trucks, and truck weights were not recorded.
He also criticised the use of ‘biomining’ technology involving microorganisms, alleging that there is no transparency or accountability regarding its efficacy.
Furthermore, Lad accused the civic body of inflating bills by falsely claiming the use of foreign technology. “If a machine costs Rs 100, it is rented for Rs 2,000, allowing middlemen to pocket huge profits,” he said.
Source: The Free Press Journal
